Best Banjos in 2022

Last update: November 20, 2022

5-String Geared Tunable Banjo with White Jade Tune Pegs & Rosewood Fretboard Polished Rich Wood Finish Maplewood Bridge Stand & Truss Rod Adjustment Tool- Pyle PBJ60 Review:


I saw this one right after getting the insane idea that I should study the banjo. Because of the cost, I was a little dubious, but I decided to get it anyhow in case I changed my mind in six months. I was taken aback. This banjo was mostly ready to play right out of the box. I only needed to set the bridge and tune it. The neck appeared to be in good shape and didn't require any adjusting, which is reportedly typical of these less expensive banjos. The head doesn't appear to be loose. In the "For Beginners" category, I gave it four stars even though I haven't actually played it. It comes with an attached arm rest, which is one suggestion I would make. There was one on it when I got it even though the picture doesn't show one and I almost ordered one with the banjo. Wonderful surprise, but somewhat annoying if you purchase one and don't require it.



6 String Banjo Guitar with Closed Back Resonator and 24 Brackets Review:


I'm not sure how to assess this without seeming like a paid advertisement for the company. I have never seen a more beautiful instrument than this. I have a Peavey bass and two steel and nylon string Ovation guitars. This adds a strong fourth to the group. I didn't anticipate this level of quality given the price of this Bantar.This instrument has a solid 5 stars at 13 reviews as of the time I write this review. There's a good reason for that: the same company's basic 5-string banjo has 128 reviews on Amazon with dependable ratings of 4 and 5. (vast majority 5). So I assume they must produce a quality instrument. I can say that I'm happy with mine.Believe it when the advertisement claims that a $450 instrument is being sold for only $150. This is top to bottom quality. It is stunning, substantial (how a banjo should be), and produces high-quality sound. Being essentially a banjo, it is to be expected that the treble strings will have a far greater response than the E and A bass strings. This isn't a guitar with a banjo body; rather, it's a slightly distinct instrument, with lower strings that are audible but not as deep and pronounced as they can be on a guitar due to the banjo head's amplifying effect.The end result has a distinctive sound and is a traditional banjo "twang" with a beautiful semi-bass drone tossed in.One drawback, but it's quite common: my instrument's motion is quite high (not unusual on a store-bought, un-tamed instrument). Therefore, the first thing I'll need to do is either find a shorter bridge or slightly shorten this one. However, the Bantar is well-produced, and the neck is straight. I think I'll have a great instrument once the bridge is redone. Almost every instrument I've ever bought "off the shelf" has needed a similar amount of modification; this is to be expected.The tone is not as "twangy" as some off-the-shelf banjos I've heard; it is smooth and resonant. I attribute this to the wood backing and sides (as opposed to metal sides sometimes found on other banjos). The inside of the backplate might need some artistic woodburning, and I'm drooling at the thought of swapping out the head for a piece of clear mylar. People could believe that I purchased a $2000 instrument.Four thumbscrews make it simple to remove the back if you prefer to play this open-back. Since I prefer a closed-back instrument, I can't provide any recommendations, however that feature does make this highly adaptable.Nowadays, it's rare for me to buy something and find it to be immaculate. Except for the action, which needs some improvement (again, quite typical), this is immaculate. Every review on this site has five stars as of the time I am writing it, so I'm happy to add my own. Instrument of the highest caliber and performance.[edit] After having this instrument for almost a week, I'm still happy with it. I did make a change by substituting high-tension nylon guitar strings for the steel ones. Ball-end sets from Martin or D'Addario are suitable. It generates a sound that is noticeably mellower than steel strings.On Amazon, I also discovered a set of gold-tone tuning pegs that are the exact same brand and design as the ones that come with the banjo. So take out the silver ones, and wow, this instrument looks fantastic with the gold tone.For someone shopping exclusively for a Bantar, this is a good purchase. Many people would prefer to purchase a 5-string banjo in order to learn the common banjo rifts, but this is ideal for a guitarist seeking a distinctive sound.



Banjo Ukulele Banjos Ukelele Uke Concert Type 4 String 23 Inch (MI1661) Review:


You should get a fret file from Stew-Mac and dress the frets, in my opinion. They are a little uncomfortable, but they are not impossible to deal with. You won't have to put in a lot of effort, but it will be worthwhile. The neck has binding, the body has purfling, and the fretboard inlays are attractive on this ukulele. The banjo is solidly constructed. Furthermore, I haven't damaged a string while playing it in over a year. Purchase this uke banjo if you want to try a banjo uke but do not want to spend a lot of money. I firmly believe that anything better would cost more than $400 to purchase.Is it audible? My wife complains that it is too loud when I use it for practice, which I don't believe to be the case.Oh, and you might have noticed that I have a pickup fitted in my image. That is additionally offered on Amazon. (look up "Imelod piezo") That pickup will perform well if you run it through a pre-amp.



Jameson Guitars 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Closed Solid Back and Geared 5th Tuner Review:


I had no idea where to begin while looking for a beginner's banjo. To be completely honest, I am an accomplished guitarist. Many, many years ago, I used to play banjo, but I played it more like a guitarist. I am essentially a novice since I wanted to learn how to play it this time as a banjoist, which is how it should be played. I don't know anyone who plays the banjo, so I couldn't ask friends or relatives for ideas. I chose this Jameson instrument after doing a lot of Internet research, which included looking at Amazon reviews.A lot of the "known" brands at the music stores appear to start in the $250 to $700 area, and I've even seen ones that cost over $1,000. Even $250 was out of my price range. Instruments in the $150–200 price range were available on Amazon (rather than in music stores), but none of the brand names were ones I was familiar with. I must admit, though, that I don't know enough about the banjo world to truly be familiar with the names.To cut a long tale short, I am really happy that I chose this instrument. It is a stunning piece of workmanship that is really appealing and skillfully put together, and it sounds fantastic. During my investigation, I came across a number of reviews of different companies where individuals warned about expecting their banjos to be ready to play when they receive them. Installing the bridge, the strings, etc., would be necessary. Not the case with this Jameson, which was neatly packaged and prepared to use. Naturally, it just required minimal tuning, which makes sense. I advise using the Snark SN-5 Tuner for Guitar, Bass, and Violin, which is suitable for banjo even though they don't specifically specify it. Even a tuning and chord chart were given.In this price range, the fact that the instrument has a (removable) resonator back is advantageous because such a feature typically drives up the cost. Jameson offers free fundamental courses on their website, which is an additional great perk ([...], which links to [...]).I saw that one of the answers to the questions above stated that it was created in the USA. Mine, however, was produced in China. It doesn't matter where the instrument was built, and it shouldn't matter to you either (unless you are of the "buy only American" mentality).Overall, I heartily endorse this banjo, especially (though not only) for beginners. It offers fantastic value for such a superb instrument. Without any hesitation, five stars!



ADM 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Closed Solid Wood Back and Geared 5th Tuner, Beginner Pack with Bag, Tuner, Strap, Picks and Strings Review:


The instrument itself makes an excellent first banjo. You are completely prepared to begin picking it up the moment it arrives, barring only unwrapping it. It also sounds fantastic! If you are just beginning out with a stringed instrument, the fact that the strings are not difficult to press down can save your fingertips.The tuner does a respectable job, but we discovered that the GuitarTuna app was superior. (Also gratis)The strap works fine. It carries out its intended function. The banjo's wood finish will be damaged by the metal clips as it moves around. The finish has been severely scratched by it. I advise not utilizing the strap or, at the very least, looking for something more suitable.I didn't get all the products that were mentioned with my transaction (missing picks). The business did not ever respond when I emailed them. (I sent numerous emails over a two-week period.) But once I contacted Amazon, they gave me some credit so I could buy the missing things. (Probably higher quality anyhow. I am deducting one star from the company's rating due to its subpar customer service. Other than that, this is a fantastic banjo for the price and will make you happy!



Vangoa Banjo Uke, 4 String Banjolele Concert 23 Inch Sapele Banjo Ukulele with Beginner Kit Review:


I am extremely delighted with this banjolele because it was the least priced one I could locate. It is loud and "plunky," just as I had wanted. If you're seeking to add a banjo-uke to your collection of ukuleles, I can definitely recommend this one even if it might not be suitable for a complete novice (for set-up issues, see below). To get the most out of it, you should use a flat pick or finger picks. With Amazon Prime, it was delivered really swiftly and without any problems. The bridge needs to be set up and positioned. You can find instructions on YouTube for how to do it properly. After installing your bridge, get ready for a lot of adjusting. To prevent the strings from slipping through, they are knotted at the tailpiece, and the instrument won't stay in tune unless the knots are tight. To tighten the strings until the knots are tight, repeated tuning is required. When those knots first began to tighten, I had to twist quite a bit simply to get the strings to pitch. Furthermore, it took a few days for the strings to "settle" and stretch. Once everything is in place, it maintains tune fairly well. There are no sharp edges like those on most low-cost fretted guitars; the fret ends are beautifully finished. A wonderful touch is the neck binding! The tuners are well-functioning, closed-sealed devices. The gig bag is quite functional. It is practical for transport but won't keep the instrument from being too much jostled. The tuner is functional, but due to the banjo's short sustain, frequent plucking is required to get the tone to register on the tuner. I can't comment on the pickup's sound because I haven't used it. The pickup has a binder clip and velcro strap to keep it out of the way while you play, as well as peal-and-stick glue on one side to attach it. A quarter-inch female jack at the pickup's end allows it to be connected to any standard guitar cable. The only complaint I have is that a tool to change the banjo head tension should have been included. I made the decision to gently loosen the head in order to slightly slow down the motion. It would have been wonderful if one had been provided, but I already have a wrench that worked. Grab this one if you want to add a banjo-lele to your collection—it is definitely worth the money!



Kmise 4 String Banjo Ukulele Uke Concert 23 Inch Size Sapele With Bag Tuner (MI1868) Review:


After reading the evaluations, I had my doubts about the praises for a cheap Chinese banjolele. It was exactly as promised and lived up to the reviews once I received it. This small banjolele, which costs $90, is well-built, sounds wonderful, and is easy to play. But I do want to draw your attention to a few issues.You must change the strings and remove the resonator panel in order to achieve the optimal tone. You can buy a quality set of strings to replace the stock ones for $6, which immediately and significantly enhances the tone. With the resonator panel on, the banjo's crisp, thin sound also feels subdued (I thought resonators were supposed to make Banjos louder. but this one mutes the sound). Once removed, a brighter, louder, clearer sound will be audible, which you may modulate with some body positioning. I wanted to insert spacers between the body hoop and the back panel to let some sound escape, but since the screws are tiny and the rim is made of cheap wood and has small stress fractures from bending, you can't take the resonator off and put it back on repeatedly without running the risk of stripping out the holes.The action is a little high, but you may lower it to a more appropriate height by carefully sanding the bridge's bottom. I reduced mine by.5mm, and it was worthwhile.The head is composed of inferior material and is rough. When adopting a scratching strumming technique, where your fingertips scrape the head material, the roughness allows for a fantastic scratching sound. The tuners are a little sloppy, but once good strings break in, they hold tune reasonably well, if not quite flawlessly.At $90, this is an excellent deal and a terrific method to determine whether you enjoy playing the banjolele. If you do, and you keep doing it, you'll feel less guilty about dripping $400 the following time.Four solid stars overall!



Vangoa 5 String Banjo MINI, Closed Solid Back with beginner Kit, Tuner, Strap, Pick up, Strings, Picks and Bag Review:


This is a fantastic investment. Because it was so inexpensive, I had my reservations, but after obtaining and playing this banjo, I am extremely impressed. Everyone should be aware that you get what you pay for. For some reason, this is forgotten on Amazon. They would prefer to pay the lowest price possible for a product, then whine that it wasn't worth the top price when they received it. For the price, this Vangoa banjo is most likely on par with, if not better than, anything else available.Rather than defective goods, which would be a shipping or customer service issue. The item review would not be this.Before buying this banjo, I done my homework on it. I didn't want to pay $300 or more on a top-of-the-line banjo or $500 on a name-brand banjo. It would be acceptable if I had problems with it, but at $175, it includes a case, strings, a tuner, picks, and a strap. Whatever the case, that is a fantastic purchase. The banjo was terribly out of tune when I acquired it, but I had little trouble tuning it. A new business called Vangoa is making an effort to establish itself. If they continue to produce instruments like this banjo, I do think they will. It looks fantastic and sounds fantastic. For the money you pay, there is no way you can criticize it. I'd heartily advise buying this banjo or looking into other Vangoa musical instruments.The picks are a little little, but the case is wonderful. I advise purchasing some metal ones. The tuner is excellent. I would definitely get a better quality, nicer-looking, and more distinctive strap rather than simply a thin black one because this one is a bit thin but serves as a solid backup. It arrived quickly and was well-packaged.In the end, this banjo is gorgeous and sounds fantastic even with the less expensive end strap and picks. In the future, I'd surely buy a Vangoa banjo or any other instrument.I write this review voluntarily and was not forced to do so by the promise of receiving free or discounted goods or financial gain. This is a commercial exchange. Prior to this transaction, there are no current or previous personal relationships. This is a strictly buyer/seller transaction.



Kmise 4 String Banjo Ukulele Uke Concert 23 Inch Size Sapele With Bag Tuner (MI1871) Review:


This banjo ukulele is fantastic! Even if you have never played an instrument before, it is wonderful to receive such a distinctive-sounding one in the mail and know how to play it right away. I play concert, tenor, and baritone. A ukulele player would do well to add this item to their collection. I've tested the Oscar Schmidt version, and it works good. I do believe the Oscar is heavier, but there is no discernible benefit to paying more for the Schmidt version. The pricing of this banjolele is unbeatable. I will admit that it took approximately 3 weeks to arrive and that I felt a little misled when the vendor was "kmise-us" and the item was shipped from China rather than the United States.



Beginner Ukulele Soprano 21 Inch Wooden Ukulele Bundle Review:


For her fifth birthday, the granddaughter requested a purple ukulele. Is there anything that Amazon doesn't have? Anyway, I bought her this ADM model. The silver sparkles and the purple hue are both fantastic, but the surface is a little bit rough, so I wish there had been one or two more coats of clearcoat on top of the sparkles. I am familiar with them because I play the guitar and own a ukulele. Three of the four tuning heads were free and bound when this one was received. I worked the gears until they turned easily after tightening all the screws and lubricating them with silicone grease. The inserted strings made a dismal sound. When I put on a set of Aguilar nyguts, the sound became tolerable.It keeps its tuning effectively when the strings have been stretched out appropriately. My granddaughter adores it, and it appears to be well-made for a kids' ukulele. For the loose tuners and the non-Aguilar strings, I deducted one star.